UN says Gaza faces grim winter without shelters

What does it mean for people to lack adequate shelter during winter?

Lacking adequate winter shelter means not having a safe, weather-resistant place to live. Families may be exposed to rain, flooding, and cold. Shelter also needs to protect people from unsafe structures and the worsening effects of damaged infrastructure. This matters because prolonged exposure can threaten lives and make health risks worse.

In Gaza, more than half of tents and makeshift shelters are in poor condition and need replacement. Many families have few alternatives, so they live in war-damaged buildings. One collapsed six-storey building in Gaza city killed 21 people, including 12 children, in September.

The problem is urgent because the current supply of humanitarian shelter materials covers only 17% of identified winter needs. The IOM says 1.8 million people face a fourth winter without adequate protection. It is calling for supplies to enter quickly and predictably before rain, flooding, and cold intensify.

How many people need winter protection, and how much of Gaza's identified shelter need is currently covered?

The IOM says nearly 1.8 million people in Gaza are facing a fourth winter without adequate protection from rain, flooding, and cold. This is almost the entire territory’s population of two million. The figures show that the shelter problem is not limited to a small group; it affects communities across Gaza.

The current humanitarian shelter supplies cover just 17% of Gaza’s identified winter needs. More than half of all tents and makeshift shelters are in poor condition and should be replaced. Families therefore face both a large shortage of shelter materials and a need to repair or replace existing shelters.

The gap matters as winter approaches. The IOM warns that heavier rains in 2026 could further weaken unsafe buildings, while damaged drainage systems may increase flooding. The agency is seeking international funding and faster, more predictable entry for shelter materials to reduce the danger.

Why are so many families living in damaged buildings, tents, or makeshift shelters instead of safe homes?

Families are living in damaged buildings, tents, and makeshift shelters because the war has damaged homes and shelter infrastructure, while critical supplies remain insufficient. The IOM says more than half of tents and makeshift shelters are in poor condition and should be replaced. This leaves people with limited options for finding safer accommodation.

The agency says many families are living in war-damaged buildings because few alternatives are available. These structures can pose serious risks to life. In September, a war-damaged six-storey building collapsed in Gaza city, killing 21 people, including 12 children. The incident shows why damaged buildings are not a dependable substitute for proper shelter.

Aid agencies also report that tents, shelter kits, wood, tools, and other materials positioned outside Gaza are being blocked from entering. Israel says it restricts items it considers potentially useful for military purposes. As a result, replacement materials have not reached the scale needed before winter.

What could happen if heavy winter rain reaches unsafe buildings and damaged drainage systems?

Heavy winter rain could make Gaza’s shelter crisis more dangerous. The IOM warns that rain may further weaken buildings already damaged by war. People sheltering inside could face structural failure, falling materials, or collapse. Rain and cold would also make exposed living conditions more difficult for families in tents and makeshift shelters.

The key mechanism is the combination of weakened structures and damaged drainage systems. When heavy rain arrives, damaged drains may not carry water away effectively. Flooding can then reach homes, tents, and gathering places, leaving people exposed to cold and unsafe conditions. In September, a war-damaged six-storey building collapsed in Gaza city, killing 21 people.

The IOM says the El Nino weather phenomenon could make winter rains in 2026 more intense. The World Health Organization also warned that the rainy season increases risks from mosquitoes and disease. Faster delivery of shelter materials and international funding could help reduce exposure before the rains worsen.

What roles do the UN, IOM, aid groups, and Israeli authorities play in getting shelter supplies into Gaza?

The UN is highlighting Gaza’s shelter emergency and urging international funding for humanitarian aid. It is also calling for Israel to ease constraints on critical supplies. The IOM, a UN agency, measures shelter conditions, identifies winter needs, and coordinates emergency materials. Its director general, Amy Pope, says supplies must enter quickly, predictably, and at the required scale.

Aid groups document the risks and prepare assistance. The IOM says more than half of tents and makeshift shelters need replacement. It also says about 8,600 emergency shelter kits are positioned outside Gaza and ready for delivery. However, the agency reports that Israeli authorities continue turning them away at crossing points.

Israeli authorities control whether shipments pass through those crossings. Israel says it blocks items it sees as having military use, while aid agencies say critical shelter materials are being delayed. The dispute leaves supplies outside Gaza as winter approaches, when heavier rain could worsen flooding and structural dangers.

Why does Israel restrict some items from entering Gaza, and what does “military use” or “dual-use” mean in an aid shipment?

Israel says it prevents items from entering Gaza when they could have military use, as it accuses Hamas of plotting new attacks. In an aid shipment, this means an item intended for civilian relief might also be considered capable of supporting military activity. The article does not list specific examples, so the restriction is described generally.

The issue affects materials needed for winter shelter. The IOM says tents, shelter kits, wood, tools, and other supplies are positioned outside Gaza. It reports that about 8,600 emergency shelter kits are ready for delivery but continue to be turned away at Israeli crossing points. These shipments are meant to help people facing rain, flooding, and cold.

The UN and aid agencies call for supplies to enter quickly, predictably, and at the needed scale. Israel maintains that restrictions are security measures. This creates a central dispute over how to protect civilians while preventing materials believed to have military potential from entering Gaza.

How can cold, flooding, overcrowded shelters, damaged infrastructure, and standing water turn a shelter shortage into a public-health crisis?

A shelter shortage becomes a public-health crisis when people cannot stay dry, warm, and safe. Cold and flooding can make families more vulnerable, especially when shelters are overcrowded or exposed. Damaged buildings add the risk of collapse. Poor infrastructure also makes it harder for communities to manage water and maintain safe living conditions.

The main mechanism is the interaction of exposure and damaged surroundings. Heavy rain can enter or surround tents and buildings when drainage systems are damaged. Water can remain in communities, while overcrowded shelters make it harder to avoid contact and maintain protection. The World Health Organization warns that the rainy season increases risks from mosquitoes and the spread of disease.

The danger may intensify if the El Nino weather phenomenon makes 2026 winter rains heavier. The IOM says unsafe buildings could weaken further, and damaged drainage could worsen flooding. Without more shelter supplies, families may remain exposed to several connected risks at once.

Key Facts:

📌 Adequate shelter protects people from rain, flooding, cold, and unsafe buildings.

📌 More than half of Gaza’s tents and makeshift shelters are in poor condition.

📌 Current shelter supplies cover only 17% of identified winter needs.

📌 Nearly 1.8 million people face a fourth winter without adequate protection.

📌 Gaza’s population is described as two million people.

📌 Current supplies meet only 17% of identified winter shelter needs.

📌 Many families live in war-damaged buildings because few alternatives are available.